Composting is the process which
cleans up your home waste as well as gives you a perfect low cost soil
conditioner and fertilizer for use in garden. It can be done at home very
easily if taken care of few things. Below is a helpful guide on composting.
What
is Composting?
Composting is a process
of breaking down of organic matter (green) to a brown substance called humus or
compost. Compost is rich in nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous nutrients which
are essential for a plant’s growth.
Deciding
factors
Proper aeration,
shredding of organic matter (paper, dried leaves), Nitrogen ( vegetables and
fruits ) and right amount of water are four main deciding factors of time
consumed and quality of compost. Bacteria, worm and fungi degrade the green
organic matter in compost after process of few weeks and months depending on
the provided conditions.
Uses
Compost or humus is
used in gardens, horticulture, agriculture and landscaping as it is rich in
nutrients. Compost also acts as soil conditioner enhancing soil aeration
quality and making it fertile.
Material
that can be and can’t be used for composting
Below is the list of
the daily used things which can and can’t be used for composting.
Yes
|
No
|
Fruits
|
Paper
plates and cup with plastic lining
|
Vegetables
|
Meat
|
Shred
paper and newspaper, paper tissue , envelop
|
Fat,
grease, oil
|
Cooked
food and rotten vegetables
|
Bones
|
Coffee
powder, tea bags , tea leaves
|
Foil
wrapper
|
Egg
shell (crushed)
|
Chocolate,
biscuits and other item’s shining packaging cover
|
Leaves,
flowers (dried or fresh )
|
Plastic
bags and plastic milk packets
|
Grass
clippings
|
Cigarette
buts
|
Pickle
|
Human
and animal droppings ( they can have harmful bacteria etc)
|
Cereal
, Bread
|
Medicines
|
Matches,
Toothpicks
|
Alkaline
Batteries
|
Pizza
boxes
|
|
Cooked
rice and pasta
|
|
Bakery
items
|
|
Beer
, wine
|
|
Dead
houseplants
|
|
Dog
food , Fish food
|
|
Potato
chips
|
|
Chapatis
|
|
Human
hair , Pet hair, Toenail clippings
|
|
Feathers
|
|
Old
cotton or wool cloth ( cut into small pieces)
|
|
Vacuum
cleaner content
|
How
to compost?
After deciding upon the
items to be composted, time is to learn how to compost. Below are the steps –
1. Collect
all green waste (Check the eligibility of the item in above table, do not add
items written in ‘No’ category) and brown waste (dried leaves) in separate containers.
2. Now
select a compost bin in which above green and brown waste will be added.
Compost bin can be simply a plastic bucket or earthen pot. You can buy a one
from market or order online if you are not sure what compost bin is to used.
3. Spread
a thin layer of soil at the bottom of the compost bin.
4. Add
green waste and brown waste as alternate layer and stir it.
5. Cover
the compost bin with a plastic sheet or paper to help retain moisture and heat.
6. Covering
will help in smell spreading around and keep flies etc away.
7. Keep
stirring the pile every 3 to 5 days to increase aeration in the compost bin. Add
water if you find waste too dry. Good amount of aeration and water increase
microbial activity thus giving push to the whole process.
8. Add
dried leaves or shred newspaper if waste looks too sticky or lumpy. It shows
water is in excess and you need to compensate it with dry matter.
9. After
few weeks or months, the waste will turn into dark brown substance giving smell
of fresh earth. The substance is known as compost.
10. Composting
works best in high temperature so try to do it in warmer months.
Check out what is worm composting ?
Check out what is worm composting ?
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